The Vet’s Guide To Cream Legbar Chickens

Cream Legbar hens look like they have just stepped out of a hair salon after an 80s-style perm. They have the cutest little ploof of feathers behind their crests, making them 100% adorable. But it’s not just their cute feather hair-dos that have made this distinctive chicken breed special. They were specifically developed to consistently display some highly desirable and unique traits, making them an excellent breed for backyard chicken owners to consider.

Besides the gorgeous colors of their eggs, as a veterinarian, I love that Cream Legbar chicks can be auto-sexed with such a high degree of accuracy. This prevents the inevitable heartbreak of owners who need to get rid of beloved pet roosters when they become too noisy for the neighborhood. They are easy-to-keep, hardy birds that usually don’t demand much time or attention, especially if they are free ranged.

So What Are Cream Legbar Chickens?

Although Cream Legbars are still quite rare in the United States, they are quickly gaining popularity as the demand for sky blue or light green eggs grows. These cute chickens with the serious ‘I want to speak to the manager’ hairstyles are the result of a rigorous breeding program to create auto-sexing chickens that lay unusual colored eggs.

History

Cambridge University in the United Kingdom can take credit for the breed we know today as Cream Legbars. It might not sound like a massive deal for novice chicken owners, but to produce a laying breed that can be sexed soon after hatching is an enormous bonus.

A collaboration of knowledge between British geneticists Reginald Punnet and Michael Pease early in the 20^th century resulted in a hardy egg-producing chicken. The best part is that the bird’s sex is immediately discernable with a high degree of accuracy soon after hatching.

These scientists developed Legbar chickens by cross-breeding brown leghorns and barred Plymouth rock chickens. This resulted in the legbar breeds that include gold and silver varieties. The Cream Legbar chicken was developed by adding a dash of white using White Leghorns, and the distinctive blue or green eggs are the result of crossing the end product with Araucana chickens.

It was all a bit of a giant chicken breeding recipe, but the geneticist ‘chefs’ knew what they were doing. Cream Legbars are a delightful dual-purpose egg and pet breed that will delight their owners and consistently deliver uniquely colored eggs that will be the envy of fellow chicken owners.

Cream Legbars received the nod from the Poultry Club of Great Britain in 1958, but they have not yet been accepted by the American Poultry Association. However, the breed does have a sizeable local following working hard on fulfilling the requirements for acceptance.

Appearance

To get a good look at what quality cream legbar chickens look like, take a look at the gorgeous winning birds in the Cream Legbar Club’s virtual show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA_2406TAbc&t=15s

Although Cream Legbar hens are dowdy in color, they are distinctive because of the standout feathering on their heads. Feathers of both sexes are medium length and moderately full. They have a single comb, and wings are held close to the body. They are a neat, sturdy-looking breed.

Colors

There are a few color varieties of Legbar chicken breeds in the world, including White and Golden Crele types. These should not be confused with Cream Legbars, which have a breed standard and coloration of their own.

As per the name, Cream Legbar chickens are mostly a creamy color, with some touches of grey and a few smidgeons of chestnut or salmon. The roosters are a little more show-offy to the hens, but they don’t have the cute crest of feathers behind their combs.

Cream Legbar hens are not remarkable in appearance in terms of flamboyant colors. They are more plain Jane-type girls with great hairstyles. However, dull plumage can be an excellent survival strategy when you are free-ranging, so their camouflaged look may be a smart move on their part!

Roosters are a little more eye-catching and sport long hackles and saddles feathers. They may have a textured dark barring pattern around the chest and tail.

Other color features to look out for in both sexes:

• Beak – yellow
• Eyes – reddish bay
• Comb and wattle – bright red
• Legs and feet – yellow
• Ear-lobes – white

Cream Legbar Size And Weight

Cream Legbars were not developed as table birds, so they will never be considered hefty chickens. They are fairly athletic birds of medium build, so they don’t require any breed-specific perch or coop setup aside from protection from the cold, especially if they have large combs.

The proposed standard weight for Cream Legbars, as set out in a draft document for consideration to the APA, is as follows:

• Adult roosters – 7lbs
• Hens – 5.5lbs
• Cockerels – 6lbs
• Pullets – 4.5lbs

Cream Legbar Rooster Vs. Hen? How To Tell The Difference

When it comes to distinguishing between roosters and hens, Cream Legbars get top marks in the chicken world. This breed was specifically developed so that rooster and hen chicks could be immediately distinguishable from each other by color.

Raising roosters unnecessarily in a breed not intended for meat was a waste of money, so knowing the difference as soon as possible made a lot of sense. Cream Legbar chickens are famous for their auto-sexing characteristic.

It is also easy to distinguish between the sexes of adult cream legbar chickens. Look out for the following:

ROOSTERS	HENS
Medium to large combs – no feather crest	Noticeable feather crest behind a small comb
Larger than hens	Slightly smaller mature weight to roosters
Deeply serrated, upright red comb with 6 points	Smaller comb with 6 points – may slope over after the first point
Long feathers over hackle and saddle	Long hackle feathers but not as long as roosters
Long, full tail feathers at a sharper angle to hens	Shorter tail feathers carried at around a 35-degree angle
The saddle and neck may be distinctly cream or barred gray	Color is dowdier than roosters, but they may have a touch of pretty salmon color on the chest

Cream Legbar Autosexing

One of the most disappointing and heartbreaking things is when chicken owners order hen chicks only to find that some start crowing after a few months. Most breeds are sexed as day-old chicks by vent-sexing. However, this isn’t always accurate, and a few males sometimes slip into a batch of girls.

The beauty of Cream Legbar chicks is that new poultry owners rarely get gender surprises. Male chicks are immediately distinguishable from the girls, and a pale color dot is present on top of their heads. Female chicks have a dark, striped pattern, while little roosters are paler.

This remarkable autosexing trait is a huge asset for breeders and poultry owners. The genetics behind it is complicated, but in short, the visible differences between male and female Legbar chickens result because male chicks receive a double dose of a sex-linked, barring gene.

Egg Production: Are Legbar Chickens Good Layers?

For a chicken breed that produces unusual color eggs, Cream Legbars are excellent layers. They will never outlay an Isa Brown, but they will consistently produce almost disproportionately large blue or green eggs for their body size.

Cream Legbar hens lay between 150 to 200 eggs per annum. That is around 3 to 4 plump, blue, or sometimes pale green eggs each week. According to the Rare Breeds Survival Trust of the UK, Cream Legbar owners can expect at least 180 or more eggs each year.

There is a lot of information around which drastically inflates Cream Legbar egg production numbers. Take note that these cute hens may not lay over winter, so if you need a more consistent, year-round layer, this may not be the breed for you.

What Age Do Cream Legbars Lay?

Hens usually start to lay at around six months of age. Of course, this depends on the season, their diet, and health, so if it is midwinter, one may expect a slight delay, or they could start a month or so earlier if all conditions are favorable.

Cream legbar hens don’t require any special diet to produce their unusually colored eggs. They should receive a staple, balanced chicken food, along with plenty of greens – or better still, they should be allowed to free range and forage in addition to their staple feed, and they will reward their owners will a steady supply of beautiful eggs.

What Color Eggs Do Cream Legbar Chickens Lay?

Cream Legbar hens are not only cute with their bedhead-style feathers, but they also lay exquisite colored eggs. Most enthusiasts keep the breed for the eggs, which can be sky blue or soft shades of green.

Remember that whatever color a hen lays, the eggs will always stay the same color. There is no variation, so a hen that lays blue eggs won’t ever change and start producing green eggs, even though her coop mate of the same breed may lay green eggs.

Since there are also recessive genes in the breed, there is a possibility that a Cream Legbar may produce white eggs. However, this isn’t the norm, and the breed is well known for its pastel blue eggs.

Personality

For anyone wanting an easy-going, independent, athletic breed of chicken with the good sense to dodge predators, Cream Legbars would be an excellent choice. These birds do best in free-range situations where they can explore and forage all day before retiring to their coop every evening.

Although they make good pets, they may not be as keen on being cuddled as Jersey Giants or Silkies. However, Cream Legbars are curious, and their temperament seems to vary according to how they were raised and their environment.

They are a great choice for anyone who loves their chickens but doesn’t have much time to fuss over them. Cream Legbars are an excellent hardy breed that does particularly well in a free-range setting.  

Are Cream Legbar Chickens Aggressive?

Cream Legbars are generally not aggressive and are more geared to flight rather than fight in most situations. They are also usually peaceful and tolerate other breeds sharing their coop and space.

Roosters, however, may be a little more feisty and protective, which can be a good thing, especially while the flock is free ranging. Like all chicken breeds, the ratio of hens per rooster should be carefully balanced to prevent territorial fights or injury to the hens from having too many roos around.

Are Cream Legbar Chickens Friendly?

Legbar chickens, across the board, are known as curious birds that love to investigate. They will leave no stone unturned – so if you have a precious veggie garden, it is best to ensure that it is securely fenced to keep your flock of snoopy chickens out!

Cream Legbars are friendly and make good pets but can be a little flighty. They seem to have short attention spans and prefer not to sit still and chill while enjoying long cuddle sessions with their adoring owners. They are constantly on the lookout for something interesting to see and do in their environment.

Are Cream Legbars Good For Novice Chicken Keepers?

Cream legbar chickens are great for any level of poultry ownership, so long as you know what to expect ahead of time. Like all breeds, there are pros and cons that you must consider before deciding to add these beautiful birds to your yard.

PROS	CONS
They lay beautiful blue or light green eggs	One can expect around 180 eggs a year, which is well below the 300+ brown eggs one could get from a layer like an Isa Brown.
They seem more tolerant of heat compared to many other chicken breeds	They may not lay during winter
They are not very noisy	They may destroy your yard and garden as they are enthusiastic foragers
Cream Legbars don’t have many health issues	They are rare and quite expensive
They are medium-sized, hardy birds, so a regular chicken coop setup is fine.	They may not become broody. Some do, and others don’t. It is not a guaranteed feature of the breed.
They are very predator-savvy and good runners.	Roosters are docile but may be a little unpredictable while protecting their flock.
They are docile and get along with other chickens.	They are terrible meat birds. This is not a good option if you want a quality eating bird.
The breed is auto-sexing, so you can tell the rooster and hen chicks apart almost immediately.	Roosters with large combs may not cope with freezing temperatures and will require additional heating to prevent frostbite.
Hens have the most adorable, fluffy feather crests behind their combs.

Cream Legbar Health

Besides their gorgeous blue eggs and great camouflage feathering, another noteworthy feature of the Cream Legbar is their hardiness. Although all chicken breeds require proper care that includes a balanced diet and shelter from the elements, Cream Legbars seem to get on with things if they have all their basic requirements ticked.

Having said that, while they can adapt to a coop-only environment, these curious birds do best if they are free ranging. If they are kept confined, they will need plenty of space and stimulation so that they stay active and interested.

Cream Legbars suffer from the same parasites and mites as other chicken breeds. To a large extent, this can be mitigated by ensuring that coops are kept pest-free and providing areas where birds can take regular dust baths. Regular dustings of diatomaceous earth are usually sufficient to keep chicken lice at bay.

Their Achilles heel, in terms of robust health, is the rooster’s large combs. Cream Legbar owners in cold climates will almost certainly require a coop heater, like a Sweeter Heater, to prevent frostbite, especially if they have roosters. You may want to make sure your coop is insulated as well.

Cream Legbar Heat Tolerance

While no chicken breeds thrive in extreme heat, if provided with adequate shade and methods to cool themselves, Cream Legbars have earned a good reputation for heat tolerance. This makes them a good choice for poultry owners in southern states, where summer temperatures can be extreme.

However, they will need some help to stay cool when temps sky-rocket:

• Let them free range so they can find comfortably cool, shady places
• Add extra water points around the yard, so they don’t have to go far to stay hydrated
• Offer cool fruit, watery fruit, and vegetables like cucumbers, cabbage, and watermelon
• If birds are kept confined in a coop environment, ensure that there is sufficient space and ventilation. Add fans if necessary to keep the air moving.

Where To Buy Cream Legbar Chickens

Cream Legbar chickens are a rare breed throughout the world. However, their popularity is increasing, primarily because of the unique color of their eggs.

If you want to add some Cream Legbar chickens to your coop, it is advisable to find a reputable breeder through the Cream Legbar Club directory. That way, you can get references and be a little surer that your chickens will be healthy and as close to the breed standard as possible.

There are several online Cream Legbar chick suppliers, although there is sometimes a waiting period to receive chicks. The great thing about Cream Legbars is that you are sure to receive the sex you order and won’t end up with extra roosters that will need rehoming after a few months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Cream Legbar Chickens Good To Eat?

No, Cream Legbars chickens are not good for eating. They are athletic, so their meat is sparse and may be tough. While excess birds can be eaten, they should not be considered if meat production is a key requirement when choosing a breed.

Are Cream Legbar Roosters Aggressive?

Cream Legbar roosters can be a little unpredictable as they are highly vigilant and protective of their flock. This characteristic is a major plus factor when birds are free ranging. While they may not pick a fight and prefer to move away from trouble, it is advisable to supervise children and other small pets when Cream Legbar roosters are in the vicinity.

The ratio of roosters to hens must be closely monitored to avoid competition between roosters. Too many males in a flock can lead to aggression challenges and possible injury to the hens.

Are Cream Legbar Chickens Broody?

There isn’t much consistency in Cream Legbar hens when it comes to broodiness. Some will occasionally become broody, but most won’t. The breed is not known for its high natural reproductive rate. If you do have a hen that becomes broody, Cream Legbars are known to be excellent mothers.

Call to action – Hit the share button so more poultry owners know about this beautiful breed. Let’s get Cream Legbar chickens with their gorgeous blue eggs and cute feather crests off the rare list and into backyards everywhere.